Avs win final game of road trip

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Kent Detlefson got the better of his former team Saturday night, picking up a hat trick to lead the Alaska Avalanche to a 4-1 win over the Alexandria (Minn.) Blizzard in Alexandria.

Detlefson, who was acquired up in a Oct. 1 trade with the Blizzard, got his second goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 in the second period, then assisted on Larry Kincaid’s go-ahead goal later in the frame.

He added a second unassisted goal early the third period, then capped the scoring by finishing off a Nick Kelly pass less than two minutes later. After just four games with the Avs, Detlefson is already the team’s leading scorer with four goals and four assists.

Alexandria outshot the Avalanche 34-19, but Alaska goalie Dusan Sidor made 33 saves to earn his third win of the season.

The victory helped Alaska earn a split with Alexandria. On Friday, the Blizzard skated to a 6-3 win behind the strength of two Mikael Lickteig goals. Detlefson, J.C. Richardson and Alex Young each scored for Alaska Friday. Saturday’s win enabled the Avs to finish an 11-game season-opening road trip on a positive note. The team returns to the Valley next week for an eight-game homestand, which begins next Friday at 7 p.m. with the team’s home opener against Wichita Falls.